as in classic
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated
Helen of Troy was supposedly the quintessential beauty of the ancient world
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Recent Examples of quintessential
Liou said union staffers were engaged in a quintessential part of protest activity by making noise.
—
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 Feb. 2026
More recently, Joe Biden’s German shepherds, Major and Commander, come to mind as the quintessential presidential pets that ran amok.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Best Family Pickup Truck Chevrolet Silverado The quintessential full-size pickup truck got a makeover for 2025 that puts it at the front of the pack.
—Scotty Reiss, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
But what presents a divine challenge to De Jesús is diving into a quintessential heroic Miller female character in the same vein of Linda Loman or Elizabeth Proctor.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quintessential
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 Feb. 2026
More recently, Joe Biden’s German shepherds, Major and Commander, come to mind as the quintessential presidential pets that ran amok.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Best Family Pickup Truck Chevrolet Silverado The quintessential full-size pickup truck got a makeover for 2025 that puts it at the front of the pack.
—Scotty Reiss, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
But what presents a divine challenge to De Jesús is diving into a quintessential heroic Miller female character in the same vein of Linda Loman or Elizabeth Proctor.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quintessential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quintessential
Adjective
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Sun and star motifs rendered in gold enhance the gem’s night sky coloring, while the classic flower designs celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Louis Vuitton Monogram.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
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Inside the case is a classic two-compartment layout, with compression straps on one side.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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An exemplary version of bo kho (beef stew) is heady with lemongrass, fish sauce, ginger, five-spice powder and star anise.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
5 Mar. 2026
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The coverage of such occasions in the show has been exemplary, particularly the dressing-room footage that offers fans a peek behind the curtain at just what goes on.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There's a perfect balance of slightly sweet and salty.—
Emily Elias,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Mar. 2026
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The asparagus, gouda cheese and tarragon strike a perfect flavor balance.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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So far, this sounds like an archetypal heroic tale—the protagonist denied his rightful place and forced to undertake impossible tasks to win it back.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
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As an archetypal centre-forward, Abraham ranks in the top 17 per cent of strikers from Europe’s top five leagues for touches in the opposition penalty area.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Rubén Chirinos, president of Meganálisis, suggested that visible coordination between Washington and Rodríguez may be generating friction among Venezuelans who had expected a more definitive break with Chavismo following Nicolás Maduro’s removal.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
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Part of what makes his significant and beautiful memoir, A Different Person (1995), an important work of art is Merrill’s self-awareness that writing a memoir is an act in service of not a self but many selves, amounting not to a definitive statement but to a kind of treatise about being.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The large cast of smaller roles and chorus is excellent.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Evans Scholars must have a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character, the release said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quintessential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quintessential. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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